Tony Romo standing taller in the pocket

Watch Romo during the Dallas Cowboys' offseason workouts, and the Pro Bowl quarterback doesn't seem to be doing anything different. Romo hits Terrell Owens in stride. Then he throws another pass on target to Jason Witten.

So, what's different?

Romo is concentrating on his posture in the pocket, standing taller and settling his feet more before throwing passes.

"It's the ability to throw from different positions," Romo said this week. "The ability to calm your feet to make certain throws."

But Romo isn't only dropping back and throwing passes with the same motion play after play. In individual drills this offseason, Romo has worked on throwing passes from different angles with different motions. And he also worked on those aspects while moving to his left or right, for the times he moves out of the pocket.

"You practice a lot of different shots in basketball -- your fadeaway, your jumper. You practice a lot of different shots in golf," Romo said. "I find it funny most quarterbacks practice the same throwing motion. The reality in a game ... your arm is going to be in different slots because you've got to throw around people. You want to be able to stand taller and throw down over someone and put a little more touch."

Romo has already been to two Pro Bowls and last season set team records by passing for 4,211 yards and 36 touchdowns when the Cowboys matched a team mark with 13 victories.

Remember, though, Romo has started only 26 regular-season NFL games after waiting 31/2 seasons on the bench. There are a lot of things he still wants to get better at. Plus, he hasn't won a playoff game yet.

"I always felt that if I wasn't working on something or I wasn't trying to enhance your game and take it the next step, why play the game?" Romo said. "It's just not as much as fun if you're not trying to improve upon where you were."

Last week, Romo got to play a round of golf at Torrey Pines, the site of this week's U.S. Open. (Romo, who failed this spring to qualify for the U.S. Open, shot an 84.) He was part of the first foursome to play the renovated TPC Four Seasons course used for the EDS Byron Nelson Championship, and has been in other tournaments this spring.

While more visible in those venues, Romo said he isn't playing any more golf this offseason than he has any other year -- even before he was the starting quarterback. About once a week.

Golf is a competitive outlet for Romo during the offseason. He still prefers being on the football field, like this week for three more days of optional team workouts.

"This just allows me to do actually what I want to get better at every day," Romo said. "To have everybody else out here, it's fun. It's enjoyable. I couldn't imagine not enjoying when you're out on the field."

Offensive coordinator Jason Garrett said Romo has "made great strides" and will continue to improve because of his approach.

Owens had 81 catches for 1,355 yards and a team-record 15 TDs last season -- and looks forward to many more from Romo. T.O. believes they can jell even more.

"Oh yeah. There were opportunities that were missed, missed connections," Owens said. "He's been looking good so far. We are trying to build on what we had last year. The offseason time together, you don't even think about how valuable this time is, spending time together throwing balls."

For Romo, it's that chance to work on technique things he believes "are going to make big dividends."